Re: Pesticide In Our Schools -- Pesticide Free World Interactive

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Date Posted: 09:25:28 08/22/00 Tue
Author: Mark
Subject: Re: Pesticide In Our Schools
In reply to: Audrey Walker 's message, "Pesticide In Our Schools" on 09:23:28 08/22/00 Tue

Thanks Audrey, and WELCOME! Before this Congress runs off on yet another recess, I pray they will pass new laws protecting against hazardous pesticide exposures in schools. Recess is for kids... seems like our "public servants" should either be working to keep our kids safe or resign from the public payroll. Until then, we're on our own... our loved ones are worth the "trouble"... bless you for asking!

First, get the facts. Write a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all records regarding pesticides applied in and around your school district over the past five years... this means all pesticide application records (as required by law), copies of all product labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)... all information school officials evaluated to determine the pesticides were "safe" and necessary BEFORE approving their spraying. Also, check out maintenance records documenting which target pests are considered a "problem", what non-chemical methods were tried first and their results.

Like a good journalist, you'll want to know the 5 W's -- who? what? when? where? why? Request a copy of your schools pesticide policy (if they don't have one, get one)... what is their parental notification policy regarding pesticides? Will they notify all parents prior to applying pesticides? If not, why not? Plus, make sure they include copies of all state and Federal regulations regarding pesticides in schools.

To avoid situations like I had in Taylor, Michigan where the "super" tried to price public records out of public reach, be sure to request that processing be expedited and all fees be waived since full disclosure primarily benefits the public (the sole intent is to protect public health). Address the letter to your School District Superintendent with copies to presidents of the school board and parent-teacher organizations. This may seem like a lot, but it's the very LEAST they should know BEFORE approving of your childrens chemical exposures. This information should be readily accessible to anyone at any time. Allow two weeks for a FOIA response, but ask that in the future they keep copies of all pesticide related documents readily available for public inspection. Ask for a moratorium on all pesticide applications until your FOIA request has been fully complied with and school pesticides and policies can be reviewed at a Board of Education meeting.

A FOIA request like this is sometimes all it takes to spur top decisionmakers into self-examination... enactment of non-chemical pest controls (like proper sanitation and maintenance)... don't be surprised if they stop using pesticides altogether... in my case, it took only one concerned parent and one meeting with the Superintendent to eliminate synthetic chemical pesticides from my daughters school. If you don't get an appropriate response, write a Letter to the Editor and get on your local talk radio show.

Look for much more on pesticides in schools in the coming weeks. I'll be posting copies of my letters to schools, EPA, President Clinton and more. Please stop back, let us know how things progress, and pass on whatever information you feel may help others. If your school district is hell bent on chemical dependence, let's take it to the next level.

In Spirit,

Mark

> Learning so much from your fantastic website. I have
> been pleading for years for our schools to find safer
> alternatives to chemical use around our growing
> youngsters. All this has fallen on deaf ears...as a
> last resort I requested notification of spraying dates
> to at least protect my own kids... I've received no
> co-operation...Wondering what my next move should be?
> Thanks for giving us this opportunity to learn that
> 'one person can make a difference' With all your
> helpful info we can now at least get some guidelines.
> Respectfully yours, Audrey Walker.

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